[Boatanchors] Capacitor Reforming

[david freeman]

I am currently reviving a boat anchor that has been in storage for some time.
I don’t have a variac that is rated to handle the complete transmitter.
Since almost all the electrolytic capacitors are socketed, I think I can
just reform them on the bench individually. My question to you guys that
do this all the time; what is the best procedure? They are 80uF at 450VDC.
The bench power supply I have goes to 300VDC. (Is that high enough?)
The in circuit working voltage is 250VDC. What rate of increase produces
the best results? Does 50V/minute sound too fast? What is the maximum leakage
current that would be acceptable for a “good” capacitor? Here is a common
scenario, I’m at 50V and leakage current is 2mA, I increase to 100V and
leakage goes to 10-12mA then gradually over the next minute drops back to
2mA. Am I watching the reforming process take place? Am I “pushing” the
process too fast? All input welcome.

Dave, WW8S


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